CHICKEN WITH LARGE HEAD INJURY... WHAT TO DO NEXT???

[MA chicken mum]

We recently integrated new barred rock chickens (6mo) with our previous New Hampshire reds (1 yo). One of the barred rock chickens got an extreme head injury from the other chickens; her own breed and the other breed were both pecking her. She has been separately rehabilitated, but we are ver nervous to put her back in with the other chickens (it has been about 2 weeks). The injured chicken is acting normal and eating/drinking/laying normally. What is very STRANGE is that the other chicken does not run away when pecked, she crouches down. Also, no other chickens are/were being pecked besides her. PLEASE leave any tips or insights about why this chicken is being targeted and what we should do with her.
THANK YOU!

 

[CaliFarmsAR]

We recently integrated new barred rock chickens (6mo) with our previous New Hampshire reds (1 yo). One of the barred rock chickens got an extreme head injury from the other chickens; her own breed and the other breed were both pecking her. She has been separately rehabilitated, but we are ver nervous to put her back in with the other chickens (it has been about 2 weeks). The injured chicken is acting normal and eating/drinking/laying normally. What is very STRANGE is that the other chicken does not run away when pecked, she crouches down. Also, no other chickens are/were being pecked besides her. PLEASE leave any tips or invites about why this chicken is being targeted and what we should do with her.
THANK YOU!

Can you post pictures?

 

[MA chicken mum]

Can you post pictures?

this is the injury before and now:

 

[RainbowHen]

If they are laying age they will crouch down when being pecked as a behavioral response to a rooster. How big is your run? Can you introduce them while free ranging? What was your integration process?

 

[CaliFarmsAR]

this is the injury before and now:
View attachment 2291371View attachment 2291372

How are they responding?

 

[humblehillsfarm]

We recently integrated new barred rock chickens (6mo) with our previous New Hampshire reds (1 yo). One of the barred rock chickens got an extreme head injury from the other chickens; her own breed and the other breed were both pecking her. She has been separately rehabilitated, but we are ver nervous to put her back in with the other chickens (it has been about 2 weeks). The injured chicken is acting normal and eating/drinking/laying normally. What is very STRANGE is that the other chicken does not run away when pecked, she crouches down. Also, no other chickens are/were being pecked besides her. PLEASE leave any tips or insights about why this chicken is being targeted and what we should do with her.
THANK YOU!

She crouches when she is pecked out of reflex. Hens reflexively crouch to submit to a rooster, and for some poor gals they have a stronger reflex than others.

You will have to slowly reintroduce the chicken at this point. Can you put her in an enclosure where is is within sight of the other birds for at least a week, ideally two? This will allow them to get familiar with each other again. Then after a week or two, place her in the coop at night. There WILL be several days where they go after her to re-establish the pecking order. Make sure she has plenty of safe places where she can hide from them.

 

[MA chicken mum]

If they are laying age they will crouch down when being pecked as a behavioral response to a rooster. How big is your run? Can you introduce them while free ranging? What was your integration process?

Our coop is about 40ft x 20ft and we let our chickens free range in the garden or yard about twice a week. We are letting the hurt chicken free range with them, but she is staying in a smaller enclosure in the garage. She still gets pecked will free ranging, we just keep an eye on her and try to prevent it the best we can. Our integration process was having them all free range together, then putting a fence in the middle of our coop with one breed on each side, then taking the fence down. All the other chickens get alone decently. We used to have a barred rock rooster but once it matured we sold it.

 

[MA chicken mum]

How are they responding?

Most of the chickens leave her alone, but some still specifically go after her.

 

[RainbowHen]

Our coop is about 40ft x 20ft and we let our chickens free range in the garden or yard about twice a week. We are letting the hurt chicken free range with them, but she is staying in a smaller enclosure in the garage. She still gets pecked will free ranging, we just keep an eye on her and try to prevent it the best we can. Our integration process was having them all free range together, then putting a fence in the middle of our coop with one breed on each side, then taking the fence down. All the other chickens get alone decently. We used to have a barred rock rooster but once it matured we sold it.

Sounds like you did a good job and have a good amount of space. I'm sorry if I missed it but how many birds do you have? You may have to start again will a longer integration process. Lots of look but can't touch. Remove bullies and isolate them to be introduced again later to knock them down on the pecking order.

 

[MA chicken mum]

Sounds like you did a good job and have a good amount of space. I'm sorry if I missed it but how many birds do you have? You may have to start again will a longer integration process. Lots of look but can't touch. Remove bullies and isolate them to be introduced again later to knock them down on the pecking order.

11 chickens, 6 New Hampshire red 5 barred rock. Thank you for the advice